Germany made the runoff in the 1977 Birmingham City Council election, but did not win a seat. In 1979 he was elected to the first of three terms on the City Council. He was Council President Pro-Tem from 1987 to 1989. In 1989, the City Council was forced to move to district-based voting. Germany and fellow councilors William Bell and Linda Coleman all resided in District 9 at the time. Bell chose to move to another district while Germany and Coleman competed for District 9, with Germany losing.

Criminal activities

While on the commission, Germany sent district funds to the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity with instructions for JCCEO executive director Gail Cunningham to distribute most of the money to organizations he listed. These included MedHealth Management, the American Charities Foundation, and the East Thomas Baseball Association. Horace Miller, president of MedHealth, then assisted Germany in purchasing a Mercedes for his wife, Lois, by contributing $17,000 for a down payment. American Charities, headed by Joseph Turnes, received 90% of the funding for its mission "to distribute funds to the community" from Germany's office (through JCCEO). Turnes then sent out checks as Germany directed, including payments to one of Germany's ex-girlfriends, to another personal friend, and to Horace Miller. The East Thomas Baseball Association (ETBA), headed by Germany's close friend Larry Combs, received funding through JCCEO and the county's parks division at Germany's direction. Combs transfered much of the money to his personal account and also gave large sums to Germany and to Clifton McElroy, a mutual friend from whom both had borrowed money. Over the span of time covered in the federal indictment, Germany approved a total of $479,990 in illegal disbursements. Other similar practices were documented outside the period covered in the indictment, and entered as evidence of a conspiracy to misdirect funds.

Germany served his time at the Maxwell Air Force Base Prison Camp in Montgomery. He was released on September 1, 2009 after serving 33 months. In a statement made at his release, he pledged to work toward prison reform, "especially for first time non-violent offenders," and to counsel other former prisoners.